Day 75 Roundup: Putin Marks 'Victory Day' With No Escalation; War Rages On
The Facts
Flanked by soldiers and veterans, Russian Pres. Putin commemorated 'Victory Day' in Moscow's Red Square on Mon. – marking the Allied Forces' defeat of the Nazis in WWII.
Analysts had suggested Putin would use the occasion to call for a wider Russian mobilization or declare a strategic victory, but he didn't. He did, however, defend launching the war, stating: "Russia has given a pre-emptive response to aggression. It was a forced, timely and the only correct decision."
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after a fraudulent election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking their promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.
